Montenegro's EU accession talks at advanced stage, says bloc commissioner

BELGRADE, Serbia

Montenegro is the most advanced candidate country in the European Union's accession negotiations, said Oliver Varhelyi, the EU commissioner responsible for enlargement and neighborhood.

“I came with a clear message. Montenegro is the most advanced candidate country in accession negotiations (process). Our aim is to drive Montenegro forward to the next level. We are all set to close the interim benchmarks. We are committed to moving forward,” Varhelyi said on X.

Varhelyi is currently on a two-day working visit to the capital Podgorica.

“Enlargement has gained momentum. I thanked (Montenegro's) President Jakov Milatovic for his strong commitment to speed up the process of integration so (that) Montenegro can be the next EU Member State. The door is open. Timely delivery will be the key,” said Varhelji after a meeting with Milatovic.

Montenegro has been a frontrunner among EU candidate countries.

The main goal of Montenegro's relatively new government is to lead the country and its 620,000 people in their quest to join the EU.